SALT LAKE CITY (Ticker) -- The Utah Jazz controlled the final 25
minutes of a heated battle against the new challengers for their
Western Conference title, holding on to the league's best record
with a 96-85 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.

Karl Malone scored nine of his 25 points in the pivotal third
quarter, which saw the Jazz break open a one-point game with a
16-3 burst. Utah used a 7-0 spurt in the final minute of the
first half to take a 53-48 advantage and never relinquished the
lead.

The two-time defending conference champions avoided their first
three-game losing streak since January 1997 and moved 1 1/2
games in front of the Trail Blazers for the NBA's best record.
Utah improved to 33-10 and matched Portland for the top home
record in the league at 19-2.

"It felt like playoff time out there," said Jazz forward Bryon
Russell. "Every game we play with them, bodies are flying
everywhere."

Besides maintaining its lead over the Blazers, Utah also won the
season series, 2-1. If these teams end up tied, the Jazz would
receive home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.

Midway through the second quarter, Portland's Walt Williams took
exception to a foul by Jazz reserve Adam Keefe. He retaliated
with a hard shove to Keefe's chest, but cooler heads prevailed
and both players were whistled for technical fouls.

"There was a lot of holding and grabbing and bumping and
banging, and you always expect that out of Portland," said Utah
guard Jeff Hornacek. "They're very physical and you know, we
stood up to it at least and we sprang back somewhat."

"I don't think they play as physical as they did tonight," said
Blazers guard Isaiah Rider.

Even Jazz owner Larry Miller got involved in this emotional
contest, exchanging some harsh words with Blazers guard Greg
Anthony late in the fourth quarter. Seconds after the brief
argument, Anthony threw up an air ball on a 3-point try.

All five starters scored in double figures for Utah, which had
24 points off 18 Portland turnovers. Bryon Russell, who went
0-for-6 from the floor in Wednesday's loss at Phoenix, made
5-of-8 shots for 17 points.

The Trail Blazers are known for their balance, but no one player
stepped up as they shot 40 percent (29-of-72) from the field and
made only 3-of-13 from 3-point range. Portland had been
averaging nearly 95 points and better than 44 percent from the
field.

Rider, the Blazers' leading scorer, hit only 5-of-14 for 11
points and starting center Arvydas Sabonis was held to six on
3-of-11 shooting. Jim Jackson paced Portland with 13 points,
while Brian Grant and Williams added 10 apiece.

"I think tonight they executed and they do what they do best,
which is frustrate you and do their little tactics that they do
and they can get away with," Rider added. "They brought it
tonight, they played very physical and I don't think we answered
the challenge."

A dunk by Grant had the Blazers within 55-54 with 8:46 left in
the third. John Stockton sparked the critical 16-3 burst as he
followed his own miss and converted a driving layup. He later
fed Malone for a three-point play to highlight the spurt and
Greg Ostertag capped it with a dunk, opening a 71-67 cushion
with 4:12 left in the period.

The Blazers faced a 75-64 deficit heading into the fourth
quarter and were unable to draw closer than seven points over
the final 12 minutes. A slam by Kelvin Cato cut the deficit to
81-74, but Malone responded with a jumper and two free throws
and Ostertag added a tip-in.

"We needed to get back on track and start playing well and you
don't want to be sliding as the season ends," Stockton said.
"You want to be taking off a little bit."

Utah was coming off losses to San Antonio and Dallas since
winning an NBA season-high 11 in a row.

Portland was in control early, with Damon Stoudamire scoring
seven of his eight points in the opening 9 1/2 minutes for a
17-8 lead. Russell answered with a 21-footer and added a
3-pointer in Utah's quarter-closing 10-2 spurt.

The Blazers grabbed a 45-39 lead on a basket by Jackson late in
the second quarter. Stockton came back with a three-point play
and Ostertag had a dunk and layup around a free throw by Rider
to tie the game, 46-46, with 1:39 left.

After Jackson responded with a 20-footer, Stockton sank a free
throw before Russell and Hornacek buried back-to-back 3-pointers
to close the half.

"We lost our momentum at the end of the first half on those
couple of plays when we turned the basketball over and let them
get down and get easy scores," said Blazers coach Mike Dunleavy.
"Up until that point, we were doing a pretty good job of
controlling the tempo and the game plan the way we wanted to."